Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Could Sertraline be making me worse?!

26 replies

DarknessDarkness · 30/07/2024 15:28

Long story short I am awaiting an ADHD assessment after a whirlwind few months. I am excited to finally find out what all my difficulties are caused by.

I am awaiting an assessment but was told to take Sertraline to make the wait more bearable as I was struggling. But I actually think it may have made my symptoms worse?

I am 2 weeks in and:

  • my boyfriend has described me as seeming very ‘flat’ this week, I feel very overwhelmed and just don’t want to do anything
  • I always have a song stuck in my head, but this week it is especially LOUD. I can’t currently concentrate on work because my head is just so loud!!! I’m also tapping my feet or moving my teeth to the beat constantly
  • I am not sleeping very well

Is there anything to say that Sertraline could actually be counter productive if I do in fact have ADHD?

OP posts:
RocketPanda · 30/07/2024 15:34

I found it made me extremely depressed ( the irony ).

SevenSummer · 30/07/2024 15:36

I know someone who was on Sertraline, got an ADHD diagnosis and the medication for ADHD is significantly better for them from what they have said. If you have noticed negative side effects that are affecting your daily life return to your GP. I think the majority of these medicines also report a period of at least 4 weeks where your symptoms may be worse.

Giraffel · 30/07/2024 15:36

I remember the first few weeks and the last few weeks being pretty awful but the middle bit was ok. That was depression though, not sure how much use it would be for ADHD.

Original poster
DarknessDarkness · 30/07/2024 15:48

I can’t even explain how loud the music is in my head.. I’m currently trying to write reports for work and I can’t!! I feel like my brain is going to explode lol!!
I know this could be a symptom and I feel like it’s got worse?

OP posts:
Cyclebabble · 30/07/2024 15:54

Hi OP. I think you need to make sure you take proper medical advice. I was on setraline for c. 2 years and found it really effective. I know a couple of other people who have also taken it for a period of time with a good impact. No one likes to be taking drugs, but sertraline was one of the better ones. Key to get a medical view though, do not listen to people on websites.

KreedKafer · 30/07/2024 16:08

It typically takes a bit longer than two weeks to get used to Sertraline. It sometimes makes people worse before they feel better.

JackRabbitSlim · 30/07/2024 16:17

I also felt awful on Sertraline, lasted a few months before I told the GP I wanted to stop (had to decrease dose, you can't go cold turkey from it). I've noticed a few people make a face and nod when I've told them how awful I found it, seems to be fairly common for it to have a lot of negative effects.
In any case, you should definitely let your doctor know as you may be better off on different medication if your symptoms from Sertraline don't settle down soon.

dollopz · 30/07/2024 16:17

sertraline is bloody awful for the first three weeks. I recommend continuing and reviewing how things are 2 months in.

dollopz · 30/07/2024 16:18

It’s been a life line for me but only from 6 weeks onwards

Createausername1970 · 30/07/2024 16:27

I haven't taken it myself, but my DS takes it for anxiety. He has subsequently been diagnosed with autism and is on an ADHD waiting list.

He says it makes him feel a bit flat. There are no lows, but there are also no highs. He also says it leaves him feeling a bit emotionless, and he can't cry anymore. Not that I want him to cry - but he used to be able to produce tears on demand, but he can't do it anymore. He says it is the sertraline.

Despair1 · 30/07/2024 16:30

Hi OP, I have been on Sertraline 50mg daily for about 6 months now, not for ADHD but for reactional depression re some painful ongoing stuff going on. I feel so much better now but had really horrible symptoms (constipation/giddiness/forgetfulness etc etc ) for about the first 3 months.
Definitely feel better now

GrumpyMiddleAgedCow · 30/07/2024 16:33

Yeah it can do at the start normally the worst of it will be over after the first couple of weeks I would try to persevere. It’s not a drug that can be taken as a one off it needs time to build up in your system and unfortunately that bit of time can be shi*ty. Hope you feel better soon x

Skyrainlight · 30/07/2024 16:41

I tried taking sertraline for anxiety. I had a really bad reaction after one tablet (the only one I ever took), I didn't sleep for three days and I couldn't eat for three days either, I only managed one mouthful per meal and I had to force myself to have that. Speak to your doctor, it really doesn't agree with some people.

Harvestmoon49 · 30/07/2024 17:04

Setraline is not a great fit for someone with adhd. Dh was misdiagnosed with anxiety/depression and spent close to 2 years on setraline.
It made him depressed, angry, he was a shadow of his former self basically. It was an awful time for us all.

Harvestmoon49 · 30/07/2024 17:05

I can't remember the exact science but his consultant described it as the polar opposite of what his brain needed.

cheddercherry · 30/07/2024 19:04

I’ve had a handful of people tell me it was amazing for them (and I’m thrilled for them) and friends say it really worsened their depression and anxiety basically, like it turned the dial up for them. Personally, I had an extreme (and rarer) reaction within the first two weeks; barely slept for days (I thought I was already asleep?) but was manic and had hallucinations (auditory and visual) and it almost completely spiralled me. I went from what was, in retrospect, mild anxiety from a traumatic loss and was recommended it by my GP alongside counselling to basically psychosis on it.

I didn’t know reality from what felt like a waking nightmare and I’ve never experienced anything quite like it (never done drugs recreationally) so to me it was really quite awful to have a total disconnect from what felt “normal” - even within the first few days I felt so crushed and spacey, like nothing was real, loss of time and just generally flat as lots of people describe.

If it doesn’t work for you absolutely you can seek other medication but in the meantime I’d probably check in with your doctor and mention any overriding symptoms you’re having that are impacting your ability to work and function.

Katemax82 · 30/07/2024 20:06

I couldn't stay on sertraline, it gave me horrendous gastric trouble!! Sometimes you have to try different types of ssris

Chocolatedinosaurswithicecreampudding · 30/07/2024 21:39

We’re All different - first few weeks on sertraline I was wired like I was high on speed - total jitters and pretty non stop anxiety.

needed benzo’s to calm me down but after a couple of weeks it was really helpful.

everytime had a dose increase was wired and needed a few days of benzodiazepines to get through it but overall was a successful drug once I got through the teething issues and did stabilise my mh for years.

if not suiting you - go back to prescriber and talk to them. Plenty of alternatives out there that may suit you better.

Sunshine9218 · 30/07/2024 22:48

Sertraline made me feel like I was on ecstacy when I started taking it (which I've never taken) and then I definitely numbed out on it which was very zombie like. I also have adhd and prefer citalopram. I know a mental health nurse who also told me that Sertraline c!,# make adhd worse. Get a GP appointment ASAP and ask them?

MeinKraft · 30/07/2024 22:50

It takes a bit of getting used to but that's because it actually works for most people. I'd give it a while longer

PrancerandDancer · 30/07/2024 22:54

I've been taking it for 3 years for anxiety and it's been life changing for me... In a good way.

However, it some symptoms I put down to "anxiety" still were present so am now waiting for an ADHD assessment myself.

As others have said, maybe try and hold out a little longer. 6 weeks seems to be the magic number but speak to your GP if your struggling as it's not for everyone

Lolatusernamesuggestions · 30/07/2024 22:57

I don't know if I have ADHD, don't want to start trying to self diagnose and all that but I guess there could be a possibility. I couldn't tolerate Sertraline. I became very laid back, literally zero anxiety couldn't give a fig but I couldn't sleep a wink, needed a drink of water constantly, gained a fuck tonne of weight. Absolute bollocks at first, feeling sick and weird shocks. It was the three months mark where I couldn't take the lack of sleep anymore.

StarsBeneathMyFeet · 30/07/2024 23:14

I took it a few years ago and I have since been diagnosed and medicated for ADHD. It didn’t suit me. I felt flat and nauseous. I guess it eased the really bad anxiety a bit. I don’t find any SSRIs really help me massively. Therapy and ADHD meds have helped more. Magnesium supplement helps too, meant to balance your hormones? I don’t know how true that is but I notice my PMS more when I don’t take it.

Toooldtopretend · 31/07/2024 08:22

My doctor suggested Sertraline for anxiety but said it would make symptoms worse for 2 weeks before they improved. At that time I was crying every day and feeling dreadful and I couldn’t even contemplate taking something that would make me feel worse. Mine was all work related though and I’ve since changed employer which made a world of difference - I don’t know whether the impact of Sertraline with ADHD is similar.

Really hope you start to feel better x

Dr13Hadley · 31/07/2024 08:35

Hi OP

I have adhd (diagnosed 3 years ago at age 39) but when I took sertraline for 6 months when I was pregnant it was the worst anti depressant I've ever been on. Made my symptoms much worse. Obvs I was only on it because at that point I was pregnant and it's considered one of the safer ADs to take.

I've found escitalopram to be a game changer to the point where for the first time in my life, I'm very slowly now weaning off them with the aim to be anti depressant free this time next year.

My adhd meds are the ones I need to take, that work well, but I was misdiagnosed with depression for over 20 years and have been on various ADs ever since.